Magic Undying (Dragon's Gift: The Seeker #1)(20)

Chapter Five





We left the apartment after I called Melly and told her where to meet us, heading out into the dark night to get to his car. As we crossed the street, I couldn’t help but glance at Roarke out of the corner of my eye, noting how the yellow light from the street lamps glinted off his midnight hair. When his head tilted toward me, I snapped my gaze back toward the park on the other side of the road.

“Where exactly is the Underpath?” I asked.

“Everywhere. But I access them at graveyards or places where the dead reside. The older, the better.”

“But how do you access them?”

“I tear through the ether.”

Holy magic. That was an insane power. “That’s possible?”

“For me. In Magic’s Bend, I’ve created an entrance at a tea shop called Mad Mordecai’s that was built over a graveyard. It’s in the Historic District.”

The Historic District had been the first part of town established back in 1712 when supernaturals had settled Magic’s Bend, so that made sense. But it wasn’t my part of town, so I wasn’t familiar with the tea shop.

He gestured to a sleek sedan, and I climbed inside. I did my best to keep my stolen glances subtle. Not just because I was dumb enough to have the hots for him, but because I was trying to get a feel for the guy.

I shifted as I sat so that my borrowed sword strapped to my back fit comfortably against the seat behind me. The blade was short like my own, but it still felt weird.

“You don’t carry a weapon?” I asked, glancing at my real sword, which he was setting on the back seat. He’d kept his hand on it the whole time I’d been with him, which had driven me nuts.

“Don’t need one.” He ran his fingertips over the hilt of my blade and I shivered. “Though your blade is very nice.”

“Ah, thanks.” I couldn’t help but feel like he was talking about more than my sword here, but that was crazy.

Roarke started the car, which was one of those swanky electric ones that was entirely silent. When he pulled out into the street, it felt like a weird spaceship taking off.

“Do you only use swords?” he asked.

“Why do you care?” I asked.

“You’re interesting. I’d like to know more about you.”

That was bad. I wanted him to not give a damn about me and leave me alone. Though my ego wanted him to be intrigued, my sense of self-preservation wanted him to be positively bored to death.

“I wouldn’t say that,” I said. “Just your garden variety mercenary and treasure hunter.”

“That’s hardly a boring combination, even in our world.”

My gaze darted around outside of the car, looking for a distraction. I pointed to the tall buildings on either side of the car. “So, this is the business district.”

“Is this a tour?”

“Maybe.”

“Trying to change the subject from the fact that I think you’re intriguing?”

So maybe I hadn’t been that smooth. “No. Just thought you might be interested.”

I could feel the heat of his gaze on me as he drove. “Oh, I’m interested.”

No question—he definitely wasn’t talking about the buildings. Fortunately, we were now in the Historic District, our destination. The ornate, old buildings were distinct from the shiny glass office towers. Their bright paint was cheerful—perfect for the part of town that had most of the good restaurants and bars.

“Where is this place?” I asked.

“Up on the left.” He pointed toward a blue shop with wide glass windows.

He pulled the car into a spot alongside the road and climbed out, grabbing my sword off the back seat.

“What are you going to do with that?” I asked.

“Lock it in the trunk.”

My heart sank as I watched him lock my beloved blade in the trunk of his car. “Are you sure no one will steal it?”

“Who would steal from the Warden of the Underworld?” He patted the trunk of the car. “But don’t worry, there’s excellent security. No one will get in.”

His confidence was a bit soothing, though I still wanted my blade back.

We waited for a few cars to pass, then hurried across the street. This part of town was busier because of the club scene, with supernaturals of all shapes and sizes scattered about. The ones who didn’t look human were required to live in all-magic cities like Magic’s Bend, which gave our town an interesting flair.

A pretty fae girl with pink wings and a smoking cigarette dangling from her fingertips smiled at Roarke and said, “Hey, handsome.”

I scowled at her, then almost stumbled, horrified at myself. I was jealous? Ugh. I needed to get it together. Fast.

Roarke just nodded at her, then turned toward me and gestured to the tea shop next to the bar. The windows were brightly lit, despite the fact that the place was closed. Tiny tables covered with floral tablecloths cluttered the inside, and every chair was different. I’d bet big money that the proprietor wore a crazy hat.

“It’s closed,” I said.

“Not a problem.” He pointed toward the edge of the building, where a narrow alley extended back into the darkness. “There’s a side door.”